Abstract: The present invention relates to liposomal vaccine compositions, methods for the manufacture thereof, and methods for the use thereof to stimulate an immune response in an animal. These compositions comprise dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (“DMPC”); either dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (“DMPG”) or dimyristoyltrimethylammonium propane (“DMTAP”) or both DMPC and DMTAP; and at least one sterol derivative providing a covalent anchor for one or more immunogenic polypeptide(s) or carbohydrate(s).

Abstract: The present invention provides liposomes loaded with chelating agents, pharmaceutical formulations including these liposomes and methods of making chelating agent liposomes. Because the chelating agents are loaded in the liposome with high efficiencies, the liposomes are of use in treatment of metal ion overload in subjects. The liposomes can include two or more different chelating agents of different structures and affinities for metal ions.

Abstract: The present invention provides liposome compositions containing sparingly soluble drugs that are used to treat life-threatening diseases. A preferred method of encapsulating a drug inside a liposome is by remote or active loading. Remote loading of a drug into liposomes containing a transmembrane electrochemical gradient is initiated by co-mixing a liposome suspension with a solution of drug, whereby the neutral form of the compound freely enters the liposome and becomes electrostatically charged thereby preventing the reverse transfer out of the liposome. There is a continuous build-up of compound within the liposome interior until the electrochemical gradient is dissipated or all the drug is encapsulated in the liposome. However, this process as described in the literature has been limited to drugs that are freely soluble in aqueous solution or solubilized as a water-soluble complex. This invention describes compositions and methods for remote loading drugs with low water solubility (<2 mg/mL).

Abstract: The present invention relates to liposomal vaccine compositions, methods for the manufacture thereof, and methods for the use thereof to stimulate an immune response in an animal. These compositions comprise dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (“DMPC”); either dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (“DMPG”) or dimyristoyltrimethylammonium propane (“DMTAP”) or both DMPC and DMTAP; and at least one sterol derivative providing a covalent anchor for one or more immunogenic polypeptide(s) or carbohydrate(s).

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides zwitterionic lipids, encapsulants incorporating these zwitterionic lipids and such encapsulants encapsulating one or more bioactive agent. An exemplary bioactive agent is a nucleic acid. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations of the encapsulants and methods of using such formulations to deliver a bioactive agent to a subject in treating or diagnosing disease in that subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to liposomal vaccine compositions, methods for the manufacture thereof, and methods for the use thereof to stimulate an immune response in an animal. These compositions comprise dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (“DMPC”); either dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (“DMPG”) or dimyristoyltrimethylammonium propane (“DMTAP”) or both DMPC and DMTAP; and at least one sterol derivative providing a covalent anchor for one or more immunogenic polypeptide(s) or carbohydrate(s).

Abstract: The present invention provides liposomes loaded with chelating agents, pharmaceutical formulations including these liposomes and methods of making chelating agent liposomes. Because the chelating agents are loaded in the liposome with high efficiencies, the liposomes are of use in treatment of metal ion overload in subjects. The liposomes can include two or more different chelating agents of different structures and affinities for metal ions.

Abstract: The present invention provides liposome compositions containing sparingly soluble drugs that are used to treat life-threatening diseases. A preferred method of encapsulating a drug inside a liposome is by remote or active loading. Remote loading of a drug into liposomes containing a transmembrane electrochemical gradient is initiated by co-mixing a liposome suspension with a solution of drug, whereby the neutral form of the compound freely enters the liposome and becomes electrostatically charged thereby preventing the reverse transfer out of the liposome. There is a continuous build-up of compound within the liposome interior until the electrochemical gradient is dissipated or all the drug is encapsulated in the liposome. However, this process as described in the literature has been limited to drugs that are freely soluble in aqueous solution or solubilized as a water-soluble complex. This invention describes compositions and methods for remote loading drugs with low water solubility (<2 mg/mL).

Abstract: Sparingly water-soluble agents can be formulated as cyclodextrin complexes, however, these water-soluble drug-cyclodextrin complexes dissociate when the complex is administered into patients. The dilution of the complex in the patient leads to the drug being released from the complex, so the drug is not effectively targeted. In contrast, drugs encapsulated in the aqueous core of a lipid vesicles are not released when the liposome is diluted in blood. This invention describes compositions and methods whereby cyclodextrin or polyanionic beta-cyclodextrin drug-complexes are mixed with a preformed liposome containing the amine salts of an acidic compound. This results in the drug cyclodextrin complex being transferred into the liposome where it is stably retained. The liposome-encapsulated drug can then be injected into a patient.

Abstract: The present invention provides liposome compositions containing sparingly soluble drugs that are used to treat life-threatening diseases. A preferred method of encapsulating a drug inside a liposome is by remote or active loading. Remote loading of a drug into liposomes containing a transmembrane electrochemical gradient is initiated by co-mixing a liposome suspension with a solution of drug, whereby the neutral form of the compound freely enters the liposome and becomes electrostatically charged thereby preventing the reverse transfer out of the liposome. There is a continuous build-up of compound within the liposome interior until the electrochemical gradient is dissipated or all the drug is encapsulated in the liposome. However, this process as described in the literature has been limited to drugs that are freely soluble in aqueous solution or solubilized as a water-soluble complex. This invention describes compositions and methods for remote loading drugs with low water solubility (<2 mg/mL).

Abstract: The present invention relates to liposomal vaccine compositions, methods for the manufacture thereof, and methods for the use thereof to stimulate an immune response in an animal. These compositions comprise dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (“DMPC”); either dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (“DMPG”) or dimyristoyltrimethylammonium propane (“DMTAP”) or both DMPC and DMTAP; and at least one sterol derivative providing a covalent anchor for one or more immunogenic polypeptide(s) or carbohydrate(s).

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides zwitterionic lipids, encapsulants incorporating these zwitterionic lipids and such encapsulants encapsulating one or more bioactive agent. An exemplary bioactive agent is a nucleic acid. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations of the encapsulants and methods of using such formulations to deliver a bioactive agent to a subject in treating or diagnosing disease in that subject.

Abstract: Disclosed are sterol-modified amphiphilic lipid compounds having two or more hydrophobic tails of which at least one is a sterol. Also disclosed are the processes for the synthesis of these compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, and the use of such compounds in delivery of an agent of interest, e.g., therapeutics, imaging agents, contrast materials for ultrasound applications, vaccines, biosensors, nutritional supplements and skin care products.

Abstract: The present invention provides for immunoliposomes that optimizes internalization of a drug into target cells bearing a characteristic cell surface marker. The immunoliposomes comprise an Fab? domain of an antibody that specifically binds the characteristic marker, an amphipathic vesicle-forming lipid, and a polyethylene glycol derivatized lipid. The invention also provides for growth-inhibiting immunoliposomes that lack growth-inhibiting therapeutic agents and yet are capable of inhibiting the growth and proliferation of target cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to liposomal vaccine compositions, methods for the manufacture thereof, and methods for the use thereof to stimulate an immune response in an animal. These compositions comprise dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (“DMPC”); either dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (“DMPG”) or dimyristoyltrimethylammonium propane (“DMTAP”) or both DMPC and DMTAP; and at least one sterol derivative providing a covalent anchor for one or more immunogenic polypeptide(s) or carbohydrate(s).

Abstract: The present invention provides chimeric polypeptides comprising a first polypeptide that binds to a component of extracellular matrix and a second polypeptide that provides for a therapeutic effect. The present invention further provides compositions, including pharmaceutical compositions, comprising a subject chimeric polypeptide. A subject chimeric polypeptide is useful in a variety of treatment, diagnostic, and research applications, which are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides for immunoliposomes that optimizes internalization of a drug into target cells bearing a characteristic cell surface marker. The immunoliposomes comprise an Fab? domain of an antibody that specifically binds the characteristic marker, an amphipathic vesicle-forming lipid, and a polyethylene glycol derivatized lipid. The invention also provides for growth-inhibiting immunoliposomes that lack growth-inhibiting therapeutic agents and yet are capable of inhibiting the growth and proliferation of target cells.

Abstract: The invention is a drug delivery system of a delivery vehicle having a low molecular weight hyaluronan ligand with an affinity for CD44 receptors. Preferably, the delivery vehicle is a liposome but other suitable delivery vehicles include micropspheres, micelles, emulsions, lipid discs, polymers, viral particles and viruses. The systems of the invention may further comprise a drug, which can be any anticancer agent or other therapeutic or diagnostic agent. The invention also comprises methods of delivering a drug to a cell that expresses CD44 by contacting the cell with the drug delivery system. Further methods include treating a patient with cancer and targeting drug delivery to cells that express CD44 by attaching a glycosaminoglycan ligand.

Abstract: The invention comprises stabilized polynucleotide complexes that have a cryoprotectant and are lyophilized. Cryoprotectant compounds comprise carbohydrates or sugars, preferably lactose and sucrose, but also glucose, maltodextrins, mannitol, sorbitol, trehalose, and others. Other suitable cryoprotectants include amino acids such as betaines and prolines. Polynucleotide complexes stabilized according to the invention can be used for transfection, and exhibit improved tranfection efficiency with respect to polynucleotide complexes without cryoprotection.

Abstract: The invention comprises lipid derivatives that rapidly degrade in the pH range from 4.0 to 7.0 and lipidic delivery systems that contain them. These lipid derivatives can be used to modify the delivery properties of the lipidic delivery systems to enable prolonged circulation times or more rapid drug unloading in the target tissue. The lipid derivatives are amphipathic compounds comprising a hydrophilic head group joined to a hydrophobic group by an acid-labile ortho ester linkage. The delivery systems of the invention exhibit degradation of less than 10% within 3 hours at a pH of 7.4 and degradation greater than 50% within 60 min at a pH of 5.0.